It’s not fair to point the finger solely at Allan McGregor but Rangers signing Jack Butland has shown just how many points could have been saved of a move had been made earlier.
McGregor is a Light Blues legend but he was on the decline for the best part of two years before he hung up his gloves, with hindsight, he should have left Ibrox on one of the two highs when he had the opportunity to.
What Rangers boss Phillipe Clement has now is a genuine match winner between the sticks and Jack Butland was at it again against Kilmarnock.
Rangers real matchwinner v Killie was Jack Butland
It’s a cliché for a reason but, big players contribute at big moments.
At 1-0 down and early in the second half, he made the type of save that his predecessor would have been proud of.
If he was 6ft 3 and not a giant 6ft 5, he might not have made it.
Other than this, his biggest role was tidying up over hit through balls – and wild pass backs – but it is the sort of performance that we have grown to accept as the norm in a Rangers shirt from Jack Butland.
Imagine if Rangers had gone 2-0 down?
Kilmarnock we’re direct and one dimensional but they already had the advantage which meant that they could keep it simple and hope for mistakes.
When Rangers defence switched off for a second, they nearly paid the ultimate price.
It’s another to add to the growing collection and even more evidence that backs up the claims for Butland to earn an England recall.
It doesn’t matter what league he is playing in, the goals are the same size and he is proving to be one of the best at keeping the ball out of them.
Come the end of the season, it could be Butland’s version of Andy Goram’s save from Pierre van Hooijdonk.
